Starting out in 1963 with the group Bob Marley & The Wailers, he forged a distinctive song-writing and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide.
The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee Scratch Perry.
After The Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977 which established his worldwide reputation and became one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million albums and singles.
Bob Marley was a member of this Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became the leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene.
Now considered a "Rasta" prophet, Marley's adoption of the characteristic Rastafarian dreadlocks and famous use of marijuana as a sacred sacrament in the late sixties were an integral part of his persona. He is said to have entered every performance proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
A few months before his death, Marley was baptised into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and took the name Berhane Selassie (meaning the Light of the Holy Trinity in Amharic).
His best known songs are a mixture of reggae, Roots Reggae, and rhythm and blues, which include:
I Shot the Sheriff
Exodus
Could You Be Loved
Redemption Song
No Woman, No Cry
Three Little Birds
Buffalo Soldier
Is This Love
One Love
Stir It Up
Jammin'
Get Up, Stand Up
His posthumous album Legend (1984) became the best-selling reggae album ever, with sales of more than 12 million copies.
Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his album “Exodus” (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.
Awards and Honors:
1976 - Rolling Stone Magazine's "Band of the Year"
1978 - United Nations' Peace Medal of the Third World
1981 - Jamaican Order of Merit
1994 - The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
1999 - Time Magazine's Best Album of the Century
2001 - Star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2001- GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 - Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#11)
2006 - The United Kingdom's "Blue Plaque"
2006 - Bob Marley Boulevard named in Brooklyn, New York
2010 - GRAMMY Hall Of Fame (Catch A Fire)
2012 - August the 7th, proclamed Bob Marley Day (Los Angeles)
2013 - GRAMMY Tribute Performance
Marley tragically died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981.
Religion:
Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, (not rastafaranism as that is seen as a derogortory term as Rasta's don't like being refered to as an ism) whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae music in Jamaica. Rastas belive they are outcast from their native Zion and looked on Ethiopia as their real home and Tafarai Makonnen, who took the title Haile Sellasie I(Power of the Holy Trinity in Amharic), after he became the emperor of Ethiopia, as their leader. Rastas belive H.I.M. is Jesus in flesh. Rastas are considered to be black Jews.
Rastas claim their root from King Solomon and Abbysinian queen of Sheba, through lineage of their son Menelik, emperor of Abbysinia. H.I.M. is said to be a direct decendant of Menelik. 'Ras' means Head and 'Tafarai" means Creator. 'Jah' is the shortened form of the Hebrew word Jehovah. Rastas belive in one truth and that is the truth of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Sellasie I, King of kings, Lord of lords, conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, two hundred and twenty-fifth ruler of the three thousand year old Ethiopian empire, elect of Jah, Light of the world. Jah Rastafari live out. Rastas preach a non-materialistic, egalitarian way of life. Bob Marley became a leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. Bob Marley was baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church in Kingston, Jamaica on November 4, 1980.
Diet:
Marley's diet was ital; fruit, vegetables and fish; which is food approved by the Rastafari movement.
Family:
Bob Marley had 13 children: three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with separate women.
His children are, in order of birth:
Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963, to Cheryl Murray;
Sharon, born November 23, 1964, to Rita in previous relationship;
Cedella born August 23, 1967, to Rita;
David "Ziggy Marley", born October 17, 1968, to Rita;
Stephen Marley, born April 20, 1972, to Rita;
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams;
Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt;
Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen;
Stephanie, born August 17, 1974; according to Cedella Booker she was the daughter of Rita and a man called Ital with whom Rita had an affair; nonetheless she was acknowledged as Bob's daughter;
Julian Marley, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder;
Ky-Mani Marley, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis;
Damian Marley, born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare;
Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.
See here for comedian Bob Marley the comedian: Comedian Bob Marley
Stand Alone
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But your loveliness won't cover your shame
There you are, you're takin' true love
And while you're takin' true love, you givin' the blame
(How could I) could I be so wrong
To think that we could get along?
Days I wasted with you, child
Now I stand alone through the memories
That haunts me, that haunt
Yeah, and I walk alone through the rhapsodies
That taunts me, that taunts me, me
There you are, cryin' again
But your loveliness won't cover your shame
There you are, you're takin' true love
And while you're takin' true love, you givin' the blame
(How could I) how could I be so wrong
To think that we could get along?
Days I wasted with you, child
If I count there'll be a million or two
Now I stand alone through the memories
That haunts me, that haunts (me)
And I walk alone through the rhapsodies
That taunts me, that taunts me
Now, there you are, cryin' again
But your loveliness won't cover your shame, hey
There you are, you're takin' true love
While you're takin' true love, you givin' the blame
"Stand Alone" is a song that speaks about the end of a relationship that was initially filled with hope and dreams. As the relationship progresses, the singer realizes that his significant other is taking advantage of his love and constantly placing blame on him for their problems. The singer recognizes that he has wasted precious time on this person and now stands alone with haunting memories and taunting rhapsodies that remind him of the love that was lost. Despite the pain, the singer understands that he cannot continue to be with this person and must walk away from the relationship, leaving his former partner to cry and face their shame.
The lyrics in "Stand Alone" are filled with emotions of sadness, regret, and a sense of realization. The song is a reminder that sometimes love is not enough to sustain a relationship and that it's important to recognize when a relationship is unhealthy and holding you back from your own growth. Bob Marley's soulful voice adds a layer of depth to the lyrics, making it a poignant and relatable ballad to anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
There you are, cryin' again
Once again, I can see you crying.
But your loveliness won't cover your shame
No matter how beautiful you are, it won't erase the wrongdoing you've done.
There you are, you're takin' true love
You're taking real love from me.
And while you're takin' true love, you givin' the blame
Instead of acknowledging your own mistakes, you're blaming me for them.
(How could I) could I be so wrong
I can't believe how mistaken I was.
To think that we could get along?
I was wrong to believe that we could have a harmonious relationship.
Days I wasted with you, child
I spent so many days with you, my dear.
If I count there'll be a million or two
I spent an innumerable amount of time with you.
Now I stand alone through the memories
Now I am by myself with my recollections.
That haunts me, that haunt
My memories are haunting me and causing me pain.
Yeah, and I walk alone through the rhapsodies
I walk without a companion through the emotional turmoil.
That taunts me, that taunts me, me
These memories are mocking me and causing me distress.
Now, there you are, cryin' again
Once again, I see you crying.
But your loveliness won't cover your shame, hey
You're still trying to hide behind your beauty when you should own up to your mistakes.
There you are, you're takin' true love
You're still taking real love from me.
While you're takin' true love, you givin' the blame
You're still blaming me for your actions even though you know what you're doing is wrong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spikespeigel8630
There you are, cryin' again
But your loveliness won't cover your shame
There you are, you're takin' true love
And while you're takin' true love, you given the blame
(How could I ...) Could I be so wrong
To think that we could get along?
Days I wasted with you, child
If I count there'll be a million or two
Now I stand alone through the memories
That haunts me, that haunt
Yeah, and I walk alone through the rhapsodies
That taunts me, that taunts me, me
There you are, cryin' again
But your loveline-ness won't cover your shame
There you are, you're takin' true love
And while you're takin' true love, given the blame
(How could I ...) How could I be so wrong
To think that we could get along?
Days I wasted with you, child
If I count there'll be a million or two
Now I stand alone through the memories
That haunts me, that haunts (... me)
And I walk alone through the rhapsodies
That taunts me, that taunts me
Now, there you are, cryin' again
But your loveline-ness won't cover your sham-ame, hey
There you are, you're takin' true lo-love
While you're takin' true lo-love, given the blame
(How could I ...) How could I ...
@thebetbetunderground9548
Bob has created so many masterpieces that never made it to the major label recordings (Island albums). This is one of those masterpiece tunes along with many, many others that deserved high-definition recording and production. But we are still grateful that recordings like these are available for us to hear. Bob Marley -- the greatest!
@jacknadal
Y
@jacknadal
°`
@christianarrizon9796
I believe this song is on the songs of freedom album, I might be wrong
@BobotieMaras
Jah agah raid dem
@BobotieMaras
Jah agah raid dem
@silasw4642
I don't think anyone has ever been so casually perfect at timing and lyrics.
@anne-sophiedhainaut9694
Silas W
@seyken3467
True that 👌
@RagtimeIrvin
Sam Cooke